Gregory S. Fryer

Greg has served as a trusted advisor to business clients for more than 30 years, helping them navigate their most complicated legal challenges through all kinds of market cycles and regulatory climates.

Greg is widely recognized for his skill in both corporate law and securities law. He regularly guides companies – large and small – through stock offerings, M&A transactions and corporate restructurings. He also frequently assists other lawyers on the more technical aspects of projects involving financial regulations, legal opinions or contract drafting.

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Biography

Greg has served as a trusted advisor to business clients for more than 30 years, helping them navigate their most complicated legal challenges through all kinds of market cycles and regulatory climates.

Greg has been recognized for skill in both corporate law and securities law. He regularly guides companies - large and small - through stock offerings, M&A transactions and corporate restructurings. He also frequently assists other lawyers on the more technical aspects of projects involving financial regulations, legal opinions or contract drafting.

Beyond the technical and transactional side of his practice, Greg has served as outside general counsel to a large and diverse set of companies. Executives and directors look to him for experienced, pragmatic guidance on a wide range of problems, balancing business considerations with legal considerations. Greg is interested in business management issues, and has been on the firm's Total Quality Steering Committee since 1995, and has Chaired the Committee since 2008.

Greg has given special attention to capital formation issues for privately-held companies. He has been closely following SEC rule proposals arising from the JOBS Act and is a frequent speaker on those topics. During 2014, he was among those involved in the design and drafting of the Maine crowdfunding statute and associated rules. For more than 15 years, Greg has been associated with the Maine Venture Fund (formerly called the Maine Small Enterprise Growth Fund), a state venture capital fund, both as outside counsel and as a gubernatorial appointee to its Board. At the other end of the spectrum, Greg and his colleagues at Verrill Dana have been retained as counsel to either the bidder or the target in every public company tender offer battle in Maine since 1985.

Before moving to Maine in 1985 to join Verrill Dana, Greg practiced corporate and securities law in New York (Chadbourne & Parke) and Atlanta (n.k.a. McKenna Long & Aldridge). He has been actively involved in the Business Law Sections of both the Boston Bar Association and Maine State Bar Association, and previously served as a member of the Board and Finance/Investment Committees of the Maine Bar Foundation. In recent years, Greg has been a frequent panelist and lecturer on securities law topics affecting angel investing.

Greg’s wife Joanne is an attorney who has her own divorce mediation firm. They enjoy sailing, skiing, hiking, and otherwise taking full advantage of all four New England seasons.

Honors

AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Corporate/M&A Recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2018 Portland, Maine Securities/Capital Markets Law Lawyer of the YearRecognized by Best Lawyers as the 2016 Portland, Maine Securities Regulation Lawyer of the YearRecognized by Best Lawyers as the 2014 Portland, Maine Securities/Capital Markets Law Lawyer of the Year Recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2013 Portland, Maine Securities Regulation Lawyer of the Year Recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2013 Portland, Maine Mergers & Acquisitions Law Lawyer of the Year Recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2012 Portland, Maine Securities/Capital Markets Law Lawyer of the Year Listed in The Best Lawyers in America under Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities RegulationSelected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers under Securities & Corporate Finance and Business/Corporate

We represented J.M. Huber in purchase and sale transactions involving approximately 200,000 acres of timberlands.

Counsel to State-Chartered Bank

We served as counsel to a state-chartered bank and its holding company in its receipt of investment by Treasury pursuant to the Capital Purchase Plan for qualified well-capitalized banks.

Establishment of Nondepository Trust for Multi-National Company

We acted as special counsel to a multi-national firm in the chartering and licensing of a Maine nondepository trust company as the client’s wholly-owned subsidiary.

Fast Action Leads to Successful Closing

A fast-growing supply chain services and logistics company called on Verrill Dana’s experienced attorneys when they needed to act fast to acquire multiple US and Canadian companies that became available due to a partial divestiture by a publicly traded company.

HeadInvest: Management Buyout

Verrill Dana represented the management group in its buyout of HeadInvest from Androscoggin Savings Bank.

Legacy Supply Chain Services: Acquisition of U.S. and Canadian Subsidiaries of Vitran, Inc.

Verrill Dana served as counsel to Legacy Supply Chain Services, the buyer/borrower, in its acquisition of certain U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries of Vitran, Inc. This deal was named the 2013 Retail Manufacturing/Distribution Sector Deal of the Year by M&A Advisor.

Local Opposition to Acquisition Prompts Nimble Legislative Action

Verrill Dana helps multinational company fight off emergency legislation aimed at blocking a proposed merger with a local Maine corporation.

Oakhurst Dairy: The Natural Goodness of an Enduring Legacy

Oakhurst Dairy has been a family-owned business for three generations. When the Bennett family decided the sale of Oakhurst was best for the company’s growth and long term success, they sought Verrill Dana’s guidance to ensure the transaction honored their company, its employees and the values that have made Oakhurst a trusted brand since 1921.

Peer Reviews

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No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Testimonials or endorsements in any review do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Past results are not a guarantee of any future results as each case must be decided on its own merits. Client Review Ratings and/or Peer Review Ratings may not be available for all firms and/or lawyers and the fact that a firm or lawyer has not been reviewed should not be construed as unfavorable.

Portland, Maine

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